NW Missouri Times

Northwest Missouri State University has started implementing Workday, an enterprise software system aimed at improving the student experience and streamlining operations for employees. The university began the transition this summer, moving to a unified platform that will manage administrative and student information systems across areas such as human resources, finance, information technology, and enrollment management.

Workday is designed to integrate these functions into a single system, which is expected to increase efficiency and improve data sharing between departments. It also features enhanced security measures intended to protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with regulations like FERPA.

Students will be able to use a centralized portal within Workday to manage tasks such as tracking academic progress, registering for courses, handling financial aid, and paying bills. Employees are set to benefit from more efficient workflows, reduced administrative tasks, real-time notifications, and interactive tools.

The university describes this initiative as a significant change in its operations. “It is not just simply a system replacement,” Stacy Carrick, Northwest’s vice president of administration and finance, said. “It is truly a transformation in our workplace. It is a shift in how we do our work and how we serve our students.”

A team of Northwest employees has been collaborating with Alchemy, the university’s implementation partner since April. In June, they held a three-day kickoff event on campus that included discovery sessions focused on aligning project goals.

The rollout of Workday will occur in phases. The employee system is scheduled for deployment in July 2026. Employees will gain access to new tools for managing benefits and payroll, tracking time worked, recruiting and onboarding staff, assessing performance, and reporting expenses.

The student system will begin its deployment in spring 2026. The first course registration using Workday is planned for spring 2028 ahead of the fall semester that year.

By fall 2028, all students, faculty members, and staff are expected to have access to advanced features supporting student records management, curriculum planning, data analysis, and strategic decision-making.

To keep the campus community informed during the transition process and collect feedback about Workday’s implementation at Northwest Missouri State University has organized forums throughout the project timeline. The university has also launched a website where updates about the initiative can be found.

“The Workday implementation is a transformative initiative that will elevate Northwest’s digital experience and support long-term success,” Carrick said. “As we prepare for the upcoming academic year, we invite the entire Northwest community to stay engaged and informed.”